Travelling cleaner for textile machines



A ril 13, 1965 A. H. BAHNSON. JR

TRAVELLING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1962 April 13, 1965 A. H. BAHNSON, JR

TRAVELLING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1962 April 13, 1965 A. H. BAHNSON, JR

TRAVELLING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 22, 1962 m MW NM .uww

I'll ll United States Patent 3,177,515 TRAVELLING CLEANER FOR TEXTELE MACHINES Agnew H. Bahnson, Jr., 1001 S. Marshall St, Winston-Salem, NC. Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,055 13 Claims. (Cl. 15-612) The present invention relates in general to travelling lint collecting devices for removing lint, dust and other loose material from textile processing machines and the surrounding floor area, and more particularly to apparatus for use with travelling air blast cleaners to collect lint from the air immediately following dislodgment of lint and other undesirable material from textile processing machines by a travelling air blast cleaner and to concurrently accumulate and periodically withdraw settled lint from the floor surface alongside such machines.

Much effort has been directed to the removal of lint, dust and other loose, undesirable material from textile processing machines such as spinning frames, looms and the like, and the surrounding area in spinning rooms of textile mills, as this material, if allowed to remain on or near the machines, reduces the quality of the textile product when it is drawn into the product and constitutes a continuing fire hazard in the textile mill. The technique usually employed to remove the lint, dust and like material from the textile processing machines is to traverse rows of the machines with a travelling blower device which is automatically driven along an overhead track to direct air blasts against various parts of the machinery and dislodge the hut therefrom. The dislodged lint is usually allowed to settle onto the floor and is eventually collected by manual sweeping or by manually operated suction devices, or is removed by travelling blower systems which pneumatically propel the settled material along the floor under groups of machines and across intervening aisles to a suction collecting duct system, or by travelling suction systems which depend from a carriage on the overhead track to a level adjacent the floor and rely upon suction entrainment and withdrawal of the settled material from the floor.

In the use of the travelling floor level suction systems, the overhead carriage for supporting the depending suction duct or trunk is usually connected by a tow bar or link to a powered travelling air blast cleaner so as to avoid the necessity of providing an independent propulsion system for the suction unit carriage. With this arrangement, the suction unit is so close to the air blast cleaner that a high concentration of lint remains in the air high above the floor following passage of the air blast cleaner and does not have time to settle to the floor before the floor level suction device has passed. Consequently, most of the lint dislodged by the air blast cleaner settled to the floor after the floor level suction trunk has passed the adjacent aisle region and cannot be picked up until the next succeeding travel of air blast cleaner and suction unit assembly through that zone.

Attempts have also been made to effect suction entrainment of some of this lint in the air by providing openings along the side of the floor level suction trunk, but this has been found to be unsatisfactory because the restricted space above the spinning frames is not large enough to accommodate suction fans of sufficient size and power to do an adequate job of lint pickup from the air and also an adequate continuous job of suction floor sweeping, fans of such large size and power would be economically nnfeasible, and because the floor level sue tion units are spaced at such a distance behind the air blast cleaner in an effort to allow some lint settlement to the floor that the lint in the air has become too diffused 3,177,515 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 ice through the area to permit useful suction withdrawal from the upper levels.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel apparatus for use with travelling air blast cleaning devices of the type which dislodge lint, dust and other loose material from textile processing machines and the like by blowing air currents thereagainst, wherein suction air currents are provided in immediate trailing or leading relation to the air blast cleaner to normally withdraw lint from the air above floor level and concurrently accumulate settled lint on the floor alongside the textile processing machines, and wherein the settled lint accumulated on the floor is periodically withdrawn by suction currents.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel apparatus for suction collection of lint from elevated areas above floor level alongside textile processing machines and concurrently sweeping settled lint along the floor besides the processing machines and periodically effecting suction withdrawal of the sweepings therefrom to a collecting zone.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel lint collecting apparatus for use with travelling air blast cleaners to elfect suction Withdrawal of lint from the air in elevated zones above floor level alongside textile spinning frames and the like and concurrently sweeping lint which has settled on the floor along a predetermined path beside the spinning frames and periodically diverting suction from the elevated zones to effect suction withdrawal of the accumulated sweepings on the floor.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel lint collecting apparatus for use with travelling air blast cleaners for dislodging lint and the like from textile processing machines, wherein elevated zone suction means are provided to normally effect suction withdrawal of lint from the air over a zone immediately behind the air blast cleaner spaced above the floor level along the upper levels of the processing machines and having floor sweeping means including a floor engaging accumulator member for concurrently accumulating on the floor and moving in a predetermined path along the floor lint which has settled thereon, wherein means are provided for periodically withdrawing suction from said elevated zone suction means and applying the same to said floor sweeping means to periodically efl'ect suction withdrawal of accumulated lint sweepings at said accumulator member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel apparatus of the type described in the next preceding paragraph wherein means are provided for automatically applying suction to said floor sweeping means upon elevation of the accumulator member to a preselected extent to effect immediate suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated by said accumulator member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel apparatus of the type described in the second preceding paragraph wherein means are provided for automatically stopping travel of the suction cleaning apparatus when it reaches a predetermined position near an end of a textile processing machine and applying momentary suction to the floor sweeping means to effect suction Withdrawal of the accumulated floor sweepings from the accumulator member to a collecting zone.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a travelling lint col lecting unit embodying the present invention shown in association with a travelling air blast cleaner;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of a travelling lint 'col-.v

lecting unit inassociation with a spinning frame;

FIGURE 3 is'an'enlarged fragmentary sideelevation of the lower end portion of the depending "floor cleaning trunk and lint accumulator structure;

FIGURE 4' is a fragmentary front elevation thereof; 7

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section view taken along the line 4.4.ofFIGURE 3; and V 7 FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electrical control circuit for controlling the damper valve in the suction'trunk system.

Referring to the drawings, 'wherein like reference 'characters designate corresponding parts throughout the sever'al figures, the travelling lint collecting unit of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference charf acter 10, includes. an overhead carriage 11 which in the illustrated embodiment is towed, ,but'whichcan be 'a. selfof the branches 37, 38 a're,spaced longitudinally of the propelling-unit if desired. The carriage 11-is designed to run overhead on a t'r'ackway 12 which extends 1ongi tudinally of a'row of spinning. frames 13, here shown diagrammatically and including for example the usual creel boards 14, 15, spinning bobbins 16, and roving bobbins 17 spacedabove the floor 18. The trackway 12 is conventional and may be supported inany desired fashion, for-example, by posts 19 extending upwardly from the spinning frame 13. The carriage 11 may, for example, be drawn by a conventional tow bar 20 'connected to the overhead c arriage 21 of an air blast cleaner 22 of conventional construction, which is self-propelled to move-along the track 12 in leading or trailing relation to the travelling lint collecting unit 10, and has a depending lower trunk 23"which extends substantially to the floor and is provided with inwardly directed air blast openings ornozzles 24, to direct blasts of air toward desired parts of the spinning frame 13,- for example, toward the creel boards 14, 15 and bobbins 16,17. An' example of such a travelling air blast; cleaner isdisclosed in detail in my I earlier U.S.-Patent- No; 2,886,843, granted May 19, 1959 and further description of the details of the air blast cleaner istherefore unnecessary here;

thereof, 'However, forsimplicity of illustration aud-description-inthis application, the ensuing description will be directed to a'carriage 11 which is'of the type disclosed inthe copendiug application Serial No. 22,900 filed April 18, '1960 by J; Frank "King and me, and which hasiissued direction of travel of the lint collecting unit. A flexible suction duct 39"is clamped or otherwise securedat one end to the branch 38 of the branchduct 3'6 and is led alongside. the trackway 11 supported in any suitable manner to a position'immediately adjacent'the blower trunk 23 of the air blastcleaner 22- The end portion of the suction duct 39 is arranged as a depending, axially elongated section40 paralleling the blower trunk '23 over the upper region of the trunk 23. The section 40 has an inwardly. directed axially elongated slot or series of openings 41 located at a height: corresponding generally to the blower nozzles of the trunk 23 adjacent the bobbins 16,

117 and creel boards 14, 15 to effect suction entrainment and withdrawal. into the duct. 39 of lint and dust which is blown'into theair in the upper regions of the spinning frame 13 by"the' blower trunk 23. 7 By locating the inlet openings 41 of the suction duct 39 immediately adjacent the blower trunk23, the substantial quantities of lint which'are blown fromthei spinning frame parts into the surrounding air bythe airblasts from the blower trunk 23 areco'llectedby the suction duct 39 before.- the lint becomesdiifu'sed generally in the'air above the spinning frame or begins to settle onto: the spinning room floor.

The'branch duct 36 'is provided'with adamper valve 42 V which is controlled by lever 43 pivoted onthe exterior of the branch duct 36 and regulated by a solenoid'44 to normally close-01f the branch 37 from the suction source and communicate the branch 38 and suction duct 39 with the suction inlet '33.; a

g A depending, sweeper trunk 45 is secured at. its upper end't'o the branch-37 of .the branchduct 36 and extends to a level ne'ar'the floor 18, terminating-in a laterally flaredj suction intake nozzle 46 at its lower end., An annular'mountin'g ring- 47 is provided at the upper end-of the lower suction nozzle 46 to which-is pivoted a pair of dependinglinks 48. having alint accumulator or sweeper .49- fixed to the lower end thereof. The accumulator '49,. in one preferred example, comprises. atransversely extending accumulator blade: or floor wiper 50 formed of a recurved strip of rubber, Neoprene 'or similar flexible plastic material secured along its upper edge to i mounting ,st rips5llconnected at their opposite ends to as US. Patent No. 3,064,299 on November 20, 1962.

Such acollecting unit carriage 'l'lincludes a casing 25 located laterally outwardly to each side of the carriage 11 'in which is supported a complete fan which is of the centrifugal typeand includes an impeller 26-and a scroll 27.

An air "discharge outlet 28 from the scroll 27, is arranged tangentially and an air inlet 29 to the impeller 26' is arranged axially of the axis of rotation. The-impeller 2 6 is journaled in suitable bearings for-rotation about a vertical-axis and 'is driven bymeans of a'belt and' pulley drive 30 from a suitable electric motor supported in a central part of the carriage 11 overlying the trackvvay 12. The bottom Wall 32 of each' casing25 is provided with two central openings 33, .34 bounded by depending annularrimsor flanges 33, 34', the opening '33 forming a suction inlet openingto the casing 25 and theopening 34 forming'the airdischa'rge'ope'riing. An airfilteririg and dust storage trunk- 35 is clamped to the flange 34' the depending links 48' and having'a length to fully span ling forwardly and rearwardly of the accumulator blade 50 in outwardly diverging relation to the direction of 'travelof the lint collector unit so as to retain accumulated to continuously tend to dispose thelinks 48 in alignment with theaxis' of the sweeper trunk 45., An integral actuator arm 56. extends in right-angular relation from one ofthe' links 48' and forms an actuator for a snap-action switch 57 mounted on the mounting ring.47 to close the contacts of snap actions'witch. 57 when the depending when the links 48 are in either the forwardly or rearwardly inclined positions indicated by broken lines in FIGURE 3.

The purpose of the pivoted suspension of the lint accumulator 49 from the sweeper trunk 45 and the snapaction switch 57 is to provide a safety facility which will automatically effect momentary energization of the solenoid 44 to shift the damper valve 42 to a position closing the branch 38 coupled to suction duct 39 and communicating the sweeper duct 45 with the suction inlet opening 33 whenever the sweeper trunk 45 strikes an obstruction such as a doffer cart or personnel in the aisles and begins to lift the accumulator 49 otf of the floor. It will be appreciated that by reason of the pivoted suspension of the lint accumulator, frictional resistance of the accumulator blade 50 with the floor of the spinning room will cause the accumulator to be drawn to a rearwardly inclined or trailing position, for example as indicated by the broken line 58 in FIGURE 3, during movement of the lint collector unit It) and air blast cleaner 22 along the trackway 12. In this rearwardly inclined position of the accumulator, or for that matter, in the other inclined position, on reverse movement of the unit, the snap-action switch 57 will be in an open circuit condition. The line accumulator blade 50 during travel of the lint collector unit 11 along the trackway 12 will then physically sweep up and push along the floor before the sweeper trunk 45 the lint which has settled to the floor of the spinning room in the path of travel of the sweeper. When the sweeper trunk 45 strikes an obstruction, rearward flexing of the sweeper trunk begins to lift the lint accumulator 49 off of the floor, permitting the accumulator and links 48 to settle to the normal center position, determined by the springs 54 and activating the snap-action switch 5'7 to close the contacts thereof. Closure of the snap-action switch contacts, as will be later discussed, completes a supply circuit to the solenoid 44 energizing this solenoid to shift the damper valve 42 to a position placing the sweeper duct under suction and immediately sucking the accumulated lint sweepings retained by the accumulator blade 54 into the casing 25 of the lint collecting unit 10.

Provision may also be made to momentarily activate the damper valve 42 to place the sweeper trunk 45 under suction at predetermined points during the travel thereof along the trackway 12. To this end, the trackway 12 may be provided with suitably located, fixed track cams 59 to activate the snap-action switch 68 on the carriage 11 which also energizes the solenoid 44 to shift the damper valve 42 to a position closing the suction duct 39 and communicating suction to the sweeper trunk 45 to suck the accumulated lint sweepings collected by the accumulator blade to the casing 25 of the collecting unit 10. It has been found in practice that momentary application of suction to the sweeper trunk 45 for a period of about two seconds during the travel thereof at intervals of about 20 seconds or longer is adequate to suck the accumulated lint sweepings collected by the accumulator blade 5t) into the collecting facility of the carriage 11.

If desired, the track cam may be foreshortened in length, as indicated at 59, and disposed at a position on the trackway adjacent an end of a spinning frame, or row of spinning frames, just before the air blast cleaner and collecting unit assembly proceeds into the spinning room aisle beyond the end of the row of spinning frames or across the transverse aisle intervening between two longitudinally aligned spinning frames to stop the travel of the assembly for a predetermined period or until the same is manually restarted. This may be accomplished by providing another switch, indicated at 69' in FIGURE 6, responsive to the track cam 59' to terminate the current to the propulsion motor of the air blast cleaner 22, or by providing a pair of track cams or a single complex cam so located as to first activate switch to reverse the direction of drive of the air blast cleaner propulsion motor 62 through a motor controller unit 61 and then activate a second switch 63 to terminate the supply to the same, operating in a manner similar to the reversing and supply terminating switches for the propulsion motor disclosed in my earlier US. Patent No. 2,886,843.

As will be seen from FIGURE 6 illustrating one exemplary control circuit which may be employed, the switches 57 and 60 may be connected parallel with each other between one terminal of the solenoid 44 and one of the three-phase supply conductors A, B, C, for example, the supply conductor B, while the other terminal of the solenoid 44 is connected to another one of the three-phase supply lines A. Thus, if either the switch 57 which responds to elevation of the accumulator 49 off of the spinning room floor, or the switch 60 which responds to the track cam 5? is closed, the solenoid 44 will be energized for the period of closure, actuating the pivoted lever 43 to shift the damper valve 42 to the position communicating the sweeper trunk 45 with the suction source. If it is desired that the air blast cleaner 22 and lint collecting unit It be stopped in their travel at a preselected point such as the end of a spinning frame or row of spinning frames, and that the solenoid 44 be energized at that time to eflect suction collection of the mass of accumulated lint adjacent the accumulator blade St), a switch 60 which is either an independent switch or may be linked with the switch 6% may be provided to be actuated by the track cam 59' to control appropriate relays in the motor controller 61 and elfect termination of the three-phase supply to the propulsion motor 62 of the air blast cleaner 22, and of any blower motors in the assembly. This may be accomplished by circuitry similar to that disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 2,886,843 by either energizing a reversing relay to first reverse the direction of rotation of the propulsion rollers controlled by the propulsion motor 62, after which other relays in the controller 61 may be actuated responsive to another switch such as that indicated in broken lines at 63 in FIGURE 6, or the switch 60- may simply terminate the supply to the propulsion motor 62 through the motor controller 61 and simultaneously activate a braking device such as a magnetic brake unit to quickly bring the assembly to a halt.

It will be understood that the switches 57 and 60, instead of being directly connected to the solenoid 44 may be connected to a conventional timing device to start the timing device, which in turn controls the current supply to the solenoid 44 to energize the solenoid 44 for a preset interval of time. In this way, the period over which suction is applied to the sweeper trunk 45 is controlled by the timing device rather than the length of the track cam, so that the track cam can be merely a short trip such as is shown at 59" in FIGURE 1. An independent timing device responsive to the switch 60 may be provided to regulate both the activation of solenoid 44 and the stopping of the propulsion motor 62, which not only shift the damper valve 42 to apply suction to sweeper trunk 45 for a preselected interval, but stops the propulsion motor 62 for the same interval or a longer selected interval, and then automatically reestablishes the supply circuit to the propulsion motor 62 to resume travel of the assembly and operation of the fans.

Also, the solenoid 44 may be activated by a switch responsive to deflection of the sweeper trunk 45 to a preselected angular extent from vertical as by striking a person or an object in the aisles, in the manner disclosed in my earlier US. Patent No. 2,886,843, instead of relying upon return movement of the accumulator blade 50 toward center position. In such an arrangement, the switches 46 and/or 49 in my said Patent No. 2,886,843 would respond to deflection of the trunk 45 to complete a supply circuit to the solenoid 44 or to a timing device controlling the supply circuit to solenoid 44 and shift the damper valve 42 to apply suction to the nozzle 46 of trunk 45.

In the operation of the above-described apparatus in connection with removal and collection of lint from a' row of textile spinning frames in a spinning room, the

assembly of a self-propelled air blast cleaner 22 and towed lintcollecting unit 10 are caused to travel on the Overhead trackway 12 describing a desired path of travel along the rows of spinning frames so as to serve a selected number of such frames. The blower trunks 23, sweeper trunks 45 and the depending terminal portion 40 of the suction duct 39 hang alongside the spinning frames at the opposite sides thereof in the aisles between adjacent rows of frames, the trunks 23 and 45 extending almost to the floor andthe portion 40 of suction duct 39 being spaced abovethe floor in the zone of the creel boards f "blower trunks 23 and will gradually settle to the floor,

The suction established at the inlet openings 33 of the collector unit carriage 11 by the fans is normally ap-' plied to the suction duct 39 by the damper valve 42 closing off the sweeper trunk 45, thus sucking in lint from V the air zones adjacent the slots 41 in each duct portion 40 and conveying the lint through the duct 39 to the casing 25 and storage trunk 35 where the lint is Separated from the air -and collected. Because the suction intake direction of travel, the lint in the air adjacent the, upper region of the spinning frames will be withdrawn into the suction duct 39 by suction currents immediately after 'on the floor surface alongside the spinning frames at opposite sides thereof to accumulate lint sweepings against the blades 50 immediately beneath the nozzles 46. At selected intervals, for example at the end of each spinning frame or row of frames, the solenoid 44 is energized by a track cam 59 and responsive switch to shift the damper valve 42 .to the opposite position closing off 'suction duct 39 and applying suction for a short interval to sweeper trunk 45 to withdraw the accumulated lint sweepings against theaccumulator blade throughithe nozzle 46 of each sweep'er trunk 45 and into the associated casing 25. This may be done either on the run or when the assembly has been stopped in its travel as heretofore explained. By this arrangement, effective suction is applied from a tan orfans of feasible size and cost to normally withdraw dislodged lint from the air immediately adjacent the blowertrunks and sweep settled lint on the floor at the sidesof thespinning frames-along the riage:

ically to the sweeper trunk to withdraw the sweepings collected against the floor engaging'accumulator blade. It is desired therefore that only such limitations be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in.- the appended claims. What is claimed is: l. A travelling cleaner for textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally ofthe machines having a suction source, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end tosaid suction source and extending down- "wardl'y alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction duct having at least one suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper parts of the machine to attract and Withdraw airborne lint'from the air in the region of said upper parts and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to a said suction'source and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, asuction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk hav- .ing a floor engaging, accumulator member immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacentside of the machine, adjustable valve means for normally closing off 'saidsweeper trunk from communication with said suction source and communicating said suction duct with said suction source, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communication between said's'uction duct and suction source and to establish communication between saiclsweeper trunk and suction source to eifect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated by said accumulator member to said car- 2. A travelling cleaner for textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally ofthe machine s having a suction source and lint collecting receptacle supported on said carriage, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end to said suction source and extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction duct having at least one. suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper parts of the machine to attractand withdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts and convey the lint to said collecting receptacle, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to said suction source and depending from said carriage to alposition adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper- ;trunk having a floor engagingwiper member immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint Which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machine, adjustable valve means for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication-with said suction source and communicating said suction duct with said suction source, and 'means for opfioor, and to periodically withdraw suction from the-su'ction duct 39 and apply it to the sweeper trunk 45 to remove the accumulated sweepings, so that suction is not required to be applied to both the duct 39 and trunk 45 at the same time.

It will be appreciated that other arrangements embodying the principles of the above-described embodi-" I ment of the invention may be employed, such'for example as singleblower and collection unit wherein the blower trunk and the upper level suction duct and sweeper trunk at each side of the spinning frames are supported from a single overhead carriage, or such a single carriage I unit'where the upper level suctionduct is coaxially arranged about the sweeper-trun'k and is valved similar to 'theherein-des'cribed embodiment to'normally apply suc 'tio'nto'the outer annular duct surrounding the upper porthe suction duct section 40 and to transfer suction periodcrating said valve means to terminate communication betweensaid suction duct and suction source and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction source to effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated by said wiper member to said collecting 7 having a suction source, a travelling air blast blower unit movable along the machines with said carriage having at least one, depending blower trunk extending alongside of the machines to blow off lintfrom'the machines, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end to said suction source and extending downwardly along one side of the upper parts of the machines,'said suction duct having at least one suction opening immediately adjacent the blower trunk facing the machines and located alongside upper parts of the machines to attract and withdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts while the lint is still airborne following dislodgment from the machine by said blower trunk and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to said suction source and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging accumulator member immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machine, adjustable valve means for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication with said suction source and communicating said suction duct with said suction source, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communication bet-ween said suction duct and suction source and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction source to effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated by said accumulator member to said carriage.

4. A travelling cleaner for textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the machines having a suction source, a travelling air blast blower unit movable along the machines with said carriage having a pair of depending blower trunks extending along opposite sides of the machines to discharge lint from the machines, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage at each side of the row of machines connected at its upper end to said suction source and extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction ducts having suction inlet openings immediately adjacent the blower trunks facing the machines and located alongside upper parts of the machine to attract and withdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts while the lint is still airborne following dislcdgment from the machines by said blower trunks and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk at each side of the row of machines connected at its upper end to said suction source and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator support on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging accumulator member immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machine, adjustable valve means for normally closing ofr said sweeper trunk from communication with said suction source and communicating said suction duct with said suction source, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communication between said suction duct and suction source and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction source to effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated by said accumulator member to said carriage.

5. A travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the machines, a suction fan on said carriage having a downwardly opening suction inlet, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end to said suction inlet and extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction duct having at least one suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper portions of the machine to attract and withdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to said suction inlet and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging wiper blade immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machines, adjustable valve means for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication with said suction inlet and communicating said suction duct with said suction inlet, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communication between said suction duct and suction inlet and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction inlet to effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated against said wiper blade to said carriage.

6. A travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the machines, a suction fan on said carriage having a downwardly opening suction inlet, a branch duct having an upper end connected to said suction inlet and a pair of lower branch openings, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end to one of said branch openings and extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction duct having at least one suction opening facing the machine located alongside upper portions of the machines to attract and withdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to the other of said branch openings and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging wiper blade immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side .of the machines, adjustable valve means in said branch duct for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication with said suction inlet and communicating said suction duct with said suction inlet, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communication between said suction duct and suction inlet and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction inlet for a sufiicient interval to effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated against said wiper blade to said carriage.

7. A travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the machines, a suction fan on said carriage having a downwardly opening suction inlet, a branch duct having an upper end connected to said suction inlet and a pair of lower branch openings, a suction duct dependingly supported on said carriage connected at its upper end to one of said branch openings and extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines, said suction duct having at least one suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper portions of the machines to attract and wtihdraw airborne lint from the air in the region of said upper parts and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to the other of said branch openings and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging wiper blade immediately below said suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto the floor along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machines, adjustable valve means in said branch duct for normally closing olT said sweeper trunk from communication with said suction inlet and communicating said suction duct with said suction inlet, and means for operating said valve means when said carriage reaches a preselected position in its travel to terminate communication between said suction duct and inlet and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction inlet for a suiiicient interval to effect suction ail 77,5 15

' l1 7 withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated wiper blade to said' carriage. u

-8. A travelling cleaner for removing lint from a roW of textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the'machines, a suction fan on said carriage having a downwardly opening suction inlet, a branch duct having an upper end connected to said suction inlet and a pair of lower br'an'ch openings, a'suction duct dependingly supported on sa d against said carriage connected at its upper endto one of said branch openingsand extending downwardly alongside upper parts.

of the machines, said suction duct havingat least one suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper portions of the machinesrto attract and withdraw airborne lint from the air in therregion of said upper parts and convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected at its upper end to the other of said branch openings and depending from said'carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper'trunk, a mechanical lint accumulator supported on'a lower portion of said sweeper trunk having a floor engaging wiper blade immediately below said s'uc-' tion nozzle to sweep lint which has settled .onto the door along the floor in a path paralleling the adjacent side of the machine s, adjustable valve means in said branch duct for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication'with said suction inlet and communicating said suction duct with said suction inlet, and means for operating said valve means whensaid carriage reaches a preselected position in its travel to stop travel of said carriage and terminate communication between said suction duct and inlet and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction inlet fora sufiicient interval to, effect suction withdrawal of lint sweepings accumulated against said wiper blade to said carriage.

9. A travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textile processing machines comprising an overhead carriage movable longitudinally of the machines, a travelling air blast blower unit movable along the machines with said carriage having at least onedepending blower trunk extending alongside of the machines to discharge lint from the machines, a suction fan on said carriage having a downwardly opening suction inlet, a suction duct dependingly supportedon said carriage connected at its upper end to said suction inlet and having a rectilinear terminal section extending downwardly alongside upper parts of the machines immediately adjacent saidblower trunk,

said suction duct having at least one suction opening facing the machines located alongside upper portions" of the machine to attract and withdrawairborne lint fro-m the air in the region of said upper parts upon dislodgment therefrom'by air blasts from said blower trunk and verse to said path to permit displacement of said wiper blade from said center position responsive to frictional engagement with the floor. surface during travelalong said path, spring means urging said accumulator member toisaid center position when free of normal engagement with the floor, and switch means responsive to location of said accumulator member at said center position for activating said means for operating said valve meansto communicate said sweeper trunk with said suction source.

11. In a travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textileprocessing machines, the combination recited in claim 1 including means pivotally supporting said accumulator member from said sweeper trunk for arcuate movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said path, spring means urging said accumulator member to a selected center position, said accumulator member and pivotal supportingmeans being displaced in a trailing direction away from said centerposition by frictional engagement with the floor surface during travel of said carriage, and switch means responsive to the position of said accumulato'r'member' for activating said means'for operating said valve means tofdispose said valve means at a position communicating said sweeper trunk with said suction source when said accumulator member occupies said center position. 7

' 12. In a travelling cleaner for removing lint from a trowof textile processing machines, the combination recited in claim v5 including means supporting said wiper blade for pivotal movement fore and aft of a selected center position about a horizontal axis transverse to said path to permit displacement of said wiper blade from said center position responsive to frictional engagement with the floor surface during travel along said path,

spring means urging said' wiper blade to said center position when free of normal engagement with the floor, and switch-means responsive to location of said wiper blade at said center position for activating said means for operating said valve means to communicate said sweeper trunkwith said suction inlet.

'13. In a' travelling cleaner for removing lint from a row of textile processing machines, the combination recited in claim 5 including means pivotally supporting said convey the lint to said carriage, a sweeper trunk connected 1 at its upper end to said suction inlet and depending from said carriage to a position adjacent the floor, a suction nozzle at the lower end of said sweeper trunk, a mechanical'lint accumulator supported on a lower'port ion of said sweeper trunk, having a floor engaging wiper blade immediately'belowisaid suction nozzle to sweep lint which has settled onto'the floor along the floor ina path paralleling the adjacent side of the machines, adjustable valve means for normally closing off said sweeper trunk from communication with saidsuction inlet and communicating said suction duct with said suction inlet, and means for operating said valve means to terminate communica-- tion between said suction duct and suction inlet and to establish communication between said sweeper trunk and suction inlet to effect suction withdrawal of, lint sweepings accumulated against said wiper blade to said carriage.

10. In a travelling cleaner for removing lint froma' row of textile processing machines, the combination recitedin claim 1 including means supporting said accumulator member for pivotal movement fore'and aft of a selected center position about a horizontal axis transwiper blade from said sweeper trunk for arcuate movement abouta horizontal axis transverse to said path, spring means urging said wiper blade to a selected center position, said wiper blade andpivotal supporting means being displaced in a trailing direction away from said center -pos ition' byffrictional engagement with the floor surface during travel of said carriage, and switch means responsive to the j-position" of said-wiper blade for activating said means for operating said valve means to dispose said valve means at a-position communicatingsaid sweeper trunk with said suction inlet when said accumulator Y member occupies said' center position.

I References Cited by the Examiner-- U ITED STATES PATENTS WALTER S CHEEL, Primary Examiner.

M. O. WOLK, Examiner. 

1. A TRAVELLING CLEANER FOR TEXTILE PROCESSING MACHINES COMPRISING AN OVERHEAD CARRIAGE MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MACHINES HAVING A SUCTION SOURCE, A SUCTION DUCT DEPENDINGLY SUPPORTED ON SAID CARRIAGE CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID SUCTION SOURCE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY ALONGSIDE UPPER PARTS OF THE MACHINES, SAID SUCTION DUCT HAVING AT LEAST ONE SUCTION OPENING FACING THE MACHINES LOCATED ALONGSIDE UPPER PARTS OF THE MACHINE TO ATTRACT AND WITHDRAW AIRBORNE LINT FROM THE AIR IN THE REGION OF SAID UPPER PARTS AND CONVEY THE LINT TO SAID CARRIAGE, A SWEEPER TRUNK CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID SUCTION SOURCE AND DEPENDING FROM SAID CARRIAGE TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE FLOOR, A SUCTION NOZZLE AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SWEEPER TRUNK, A MECHANICAL LINT ACCUMULATOR SUPPORTED ON A LOWER PORTION OF SAID SWEEPER TRUNK HAVING A FLOOR ENGAGING ACCUMULATOR MEMBER IMMEDIATELY 